Materials Design and Engineering (300 credits)

Job opportunities and the future

Knowledge of materials is considered to be one most important technical areas of the future and is consequently a field in which Swedish industry is currently investing considerable amounts, investments which will continue into the future. As a Master of Science in Material Design students may work with developing the materials of the future. Students will meet exciting challenges as concerns environmentally-friendly material development and recycling, advanced material use and development of new materials based on nanotechnology. KTH enjoys a leading position in the materials field. If students would like access to this competence, and at the same time gain a qualification that is perceived as both relevant and career promoting in later employment situations, then Material Design is the programme for them. Graduates have many job opportunities with considerable spread geographically, subject-wise and job wise. It is common that graduates work in businesses/industries where material characteristics are important, these include the vehicle, electronics, engineering, packaging and medical industries. Many also work with environmental issues, for example with the development of new environmentally-friendly materials. The demand for graduates of this programme is on the labour market is considerable, both in Sweden and abroad. Materials are important – they save lives, create employment opportunities and save the environment.

The programme

Knowledge of materials is considered to be one most important technical areas of the future and is consequently a field in which Swedish industry is currently investing considerable amounts, investments which will continue into the future. As a Master of Science in Material Design students may work with developing the materials of the future. Students will meet exciting challenges as concerns environmentally-friendly material development and recycling, advanced material use and development of new materials based on nanotechnology. KTH enjoys a leading position in the materials field. If students would like access to this competence, and at the same time gain a qualification that is perceived as both relevant and career promoting in later employment situations, then Material Design is the programme for them. Graduates have many job opportunities with considerable spread geographically, subject-wise and job wise. It is common that graduates work in businesses/industries where material characteristics are important, these include the vehicle, electronics, engineering, packaging and medical industries. Many also work with environmental issues, for example with the development of new environmentally-friendly materials. The demand for graduates of this programme is on the labour market is considerable, both in Sweden and abroad. Materials are important – they save lives, create employment opportunities and save the environment.

Year 1

In Year 1 students study basic courses within mathematics, physics and engineering.

In the Perspectives course students are introduced to material design, general material choice and environmental aspects. This course also provides training in report writing and presentations. Students are introduced to MATLAB, a calculations computer program. They also meet mentors from the Department of Material Sciences or Fibre and Polymer Technology. Mentors will provide support during the first few years as well as supervising various project tasks. Each mentor is responsible for around five students.

Consists of two courses of 12 credits each. Mathematics is an important tool for engineers and the first mathematics courses cover linear algebra and differential and integral calculus.

This course provides an understanding and knowledge of the interplay between chemistry/material, chemistry/energy and chemistry/environment.

The Mechanics course focuses on the interplay between basic physical principles and the models that describe reality. This course provides knowledge the laws of nature as concerns time, space, matter and motion and how these are applied to solve practical problems.

This course brings knowledge of the most important concepts connected to electrical and magnetic fields and mechanical and electromagnetic waves. It also trains students to analyse, formulate and solve simple problems.

Year 2

Year 2 consists of more subject-specific courses such as Materials Science and Materials Physics. In addition there are courses in solid mechanics, thermodynamics, mathematics and numerical methods and programming.

Here students gain knowledge in using mathematical software to solve technical-mathematical problems, carry out numerical experiments and present solutions. Programming is carried out in the programming language MATLAB.

Solid mechanics' basic concepts and principles, construction materials' mechanical characteristics, methods to solve practical problems within solid mechanics and the ability to independently apply this knowledge.

Differential equations describe how quantities change in time and space. This plays a decisive role in technical applications. Here students learn solution methods, applications and transformation methods.

In this course students learn to account for the basic concepts of thermodynamics, carry out equilibrium calculations and simple thermodynamic calculations with the help of traditional methods and thermodynamic computer programmes. Students also learn to formulate and solve thermodynamic problems for simpler materials and processes.

This course deals with metallic and ceramic materials and provides an orientation in these types of material and their applications.

In this course students learn to analyse different material structures (at macro and micro levels ) and to explain the characteristics of a material based on a materials science perspective. Light and scanning electron microscopes are used to achieve this.

Material Physics deals with the electron structure of atom types. Students gain insight into how to systematically approach material physics problems, and that measurement is the foundation on which all material knowledge rests. Students not only learn classical material physics, they also find out about the absolutely latest research progress within the field.

Polymeric materials - plastic materials - can be produced with wildly differing characteristics and can often be purpose-designed for the intended product. This course describes the development, characterisation, physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of polymeric materials at an overall level.

Year 3

Year 3 continues with subject-specific courses within the Mechanical Characteristics of Materials, Micro and Nanostructures, Transport Phenomena plus Production Processes. In the spring term elective courses are chosen within a specialisation. Students also choose two or three elective courses in order to prepare for their planned Master programme. There are also a number of totally elective credits available.

Year 3 is concluded by a Bachelor of Science degree project worth 15 credits within the chosen specialisation in which students exercise independent and critical assessment and independently identify, formulate and solve problems. Selection of Master of Science programme is carried out in the autumn term of Year 3.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE

When 180 credits have been gained students may take out a Bachelor of Science degree if all requirements have been fulfilled. Studies then continue to the Master of Science degree of 300 credits. Alternatively students may choose to continue their studies on another one or two-year master programme.

Years 4-5

In Years 4 and 5 students follow the Master programme they have selected.

This specialisation is located at Högskolan Dalarna in Borlänge. Students in the Materials Design and Engineering Programme may also select this Master programme

This programme provides both a broad and an in-depth education within organic materials in their pure and composite forms, the production of synthetic and natural polymers such as wood, proteins or polysaccharides. This includes knowledge on development of material that resembles those in nature, termed as biomimetic structures as well as being able to integrate different functions in material such as the ability to self-repair and shape permanence. The application areas for such materials include electronics, biomedicine, biotechnological applications and functional packaging.

This specialisation is aimed at production, processing and utilisation of metallic and ceramic materials and composites. A composite consists of several layers of material with different characteristics which together supply the composite with unique characteristics. Special attention is paid to the development of material to be used at high temperatures, in corrosive environments, bearing heavy loads or in environments that require unique electric, optic or magnetic characteristics. Another important aspect when developing materials, almost irrespective of area of application, is that the material in question has a long lifetime. Important areas of application for these special materials include communications, transport, energy production, electronics and biotechnology. Technical subjects that are included in this specialisation are material physics, chemistry, solid mechanics and thermodynamics.

This programme is primarily materials-oriented, with a partial specialisation in microelectronics /photonics but a profile towards materials chemistry, biomedical applications or purer materials physics is also possible. The range of courses available provides a good basis in physics as well as a wide range of applied courses with nanotechnical connections. Strong emphasis is placed on characteristics, syntheses and design of nanostructured materials and components. The programme is also experimental in its nature and provides a good understanding and experience of a number of material analysis methods.

This programme deals with the collaboration of technology and economics within production engineering. The subject area is integrated with operations, control and investment analyses in industrial operations. There are two specialisations within the programme; Industrial Marketing and Project and Production Management.

There is no area of engineering that is, or has been, more closely connected to the development of society than energy. There are many specialisations in this field: Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Renewable Energy Sources, Nuclear Power Safety, Energy Saving and Environmental Issues.

This programme provides knowledge within the field of Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development. Students gain knowledge and skills concerning engineering and sustainable development within a number of operational areas such as environmental management, environmental impact, waste management, risk management, environmental engineering and environmental systems analysis.

This programme provides opportunities to gain broad, technical competence at the same time as students may specialise within tracks covering aeronautics, space, light constructions or systems engineering.

This programme provides training in areas such as model building, analysis using modern numerical and experimental methods so that students will be able to solve real problem within this broad field. There are three specialisations - Solid Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Sound and Vibration.

Master programmes and the Erasmus Mundus

Degree project

The programme is completed with a degree project. This project works as proof positive that the student has fulfilled the requirements of the Master course. Students will apply all the knowledge they have acquired during their period of study at KTH. The degree project is carried out in connection to the Master Programme, most often during Year 5 and is aimed at providing experience of, under realistic conditions, independently planning, implementation and documentation of a task according to good engineering practice. This project may be carried out at KTH or at a company.